Hello. I'm new here. I had a gastric bypass in October 2002. At that time I weighed 315 lbs. I lost until I weighed 216. Then I got off track and now weigh 242. I'm so miserable and want to get back on track. I don't know what my portion size should be anymore. I know the areas that I need to change. Cutting out the snacks and gorging myself until I'm miserably full. I am starting to exercise again. I guess the portion size is what is bothering me the most. How much should I be eating at a meal time? I am so ready to get back on track.
new here
- Thread starter grannyjo5
- Start date
Pat99
Member
Grannyjo-Welcome to the forum. I looked up portion sizes in the patient handout I was given in my nutrition class. If you eat 5 or 6 times a day the portion size is 1/2 cup per meal. If you eat 3 or 4 times a day it's 3/4 to 1 cup per meal. This does not include your daily fluid requirements. This is a general guideline and will vary with your activity level and the type of foods you eat (protein vs. veggies). You need to eat a specific amount of protein each day to help build muscle and lose weight and also to keep your hair from falling out. A protein shake counts as a meal and also counts towards your fluid intake. I hope this information helps. It's just a general guideline. It would be a good idea for you to set up an appointment with a bariatric nutritionist before you get too far along. Since your surgery your body is only absorbing a portion of nutrients and you are at risk of malabsorbtion (if you had gastric bypass). The nutritionist can provide you with a well rounded meal plan and recommend certain vitamins and supplements to make sure you do not become deficient. You will probably have to have blood work done at a certain point in time to make sure you are on track. I was told by my nutritionist I need to have bloodwork done every 6 months for the rest of my life.
TwoMas
Member
Hi Grannyjo5, Welcome. I have to agree with Pat, please see a bariatric nutritionist, they will help you get back on track and set you up with a meal plan that will suit you they can also take a look at your vitamin levels and monitor them while you change your eating habits back to what they were post surgey. Remember the bypass is just a tool we use to help us maintain a healthy weight and not a cure, however the bypass doesn't go away even though you may have streched your pouch out a little over the past ten years it can only hold so much food before you become misserable. It sounds like you know what to do you just need some help and a starting point and a bariatric nutritionist and possably a doctors visit is all you need to help you get back on track and if there is a support group in your area check out one of the meetings you may find you are not the only one who needs a helping hand. So make an appoitment ASAP and let us know how you are doing, we are here for support.
Tom